Printer not reading Ink Cartridge nor Feeding Paper

[Bird95]

I have had this printer for nearly 10 years now and it worked well for the first 7 with no problems. Recently, I purchased a new black ink cart for the printer as the previous one had stopped working as well/ was old. I'd already been having issues with the printer not feeding the paper and giving me a "no paper loaded" error message, so I was already considering getting a new one anyways. When I installed the new cart, which I have done before with no problems, the printer keeps saying that it does not recognize the cart. The box the cart came in specifically lists my printer as one of the compatible ones, and even has mine listed as the first number (3830). My old cart registers, but does not print black, and I have to set the color to gray to even get anything out of the printer, and when I do, it's very light/barely readable. I have been through every troubleshooting step and video I can, and I'm about to just toss this printer for a new one. 

Any advice would be appreciated, because I'm about to reenact The Office with this thing. 

[A_Gayathri]

Hi @Bird95,

Welcome to The HP Support Community.  

Thank you for posting your query, I will be glad to help you.

I understand how frustrating to deal with printer issues, especially after having one that served you well for many years. Here are some steps and advice that might help resolve the problems with your HP OfficeJet 3830:

1. Ink Cartridge Recognition Issue:

• Clean the Cartridge Contacts: Sometimes, ink cartridge contacts can get dirty or covered with ink residue, which can prevent the printer from recognizing them. Carefully remove the new ink cartridge and wipe the contacts with a lint-free cloth or cotton swab lightly moistened with distilled water. Make sure the contacts are dry before reinserting the cartridge.
• Reinstall the Cartridge: Take out the cartridge and reinsert it firmly into the printer. Sometimes, a slight misalignment or not fully seated cartridge can cause recognition issues.
• Update Printer Firmware: Check if there are any firmware updates available for your printer. Updating the firmware can sometimes resolve compatibility issues with new ink cartridges. Update the firmware on an HP printer
• Reset the Printer: Turn off the printer, disconnect the power cord, and wait for about 1-2 minutes. Plug the power cord back in and turn on the printer. This can sometimes reset the printer's internal memory and resolve cartridge recognition problems.
• Try Another New Cartridge: If possible, try another new ink cartridge of the same type. Very rarely, a new cartridge can be faulty out of the box.

2. Paper Feeding Issue:

• Check Paper Alignment: Ensure that the paper guides in the paper tray are adjusted snugly against the edges of the paper stack. Misaligned or loose guides can cause paper feed problems.
• Clean Paper Feed Rollers: Paper feed rollers can accumulate dust and debris over time, leading to paper feed issues. Use a lint-free cloth lightly moistened with water to clean the rollers. Refer to your printer's manual for guidance on accessing and cleaning the rollers.
• Fan the Paper: Before loading the paper into the tray, fan the stack of paper to separate the sheets. This can prevent paper from sticking together and causing feed errors.
• Use Correct Paper Type: Ensure that you are using the correct type and size of paper as specified by HP for your printer model. Using incorrect paper types can lead to feed problems.
• Check for Updates: Make sure your printer drivers and software are up to date. Outdated drivers can sometimes cause various issues.

Refer to this document:  HP OfficeJet 3830 All-in-One Printer series User manual

I hope this helps. 

Take care and have a good day.

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